Urine| Hair Follicle | Oral Fluid | Blood | ETG
Hair analysis has become recognized as an effective means to identify drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers a prolonged record of alcohol and other substances by incorporating biomarkers within the strands as they grow. Upon collection near the scalp, hair can reveal a history up to roughly 3 months for alcohol and drug detection, making it quite reliable. The collection process is straightforward, tampering is not easy, and transportation is uncomplicated.
A hair sample measuring 1.5 inches, consisting of about 200 strands (roughly the thickness of a #2 pencil), is close to the scalp and weighs approximately 100mg, which is the perfect amount for screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests and/or tests over 10 panels, an amount of 150mg is suggested. It's advisable to weigh the sample with a jeweler's scale. Should scalp hair be insufficient, a comparable quantity of body hair can be collected. When addressing head hair, we specifically mean scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other types (facial, axillary, etc.).
Process Overview
The lab processing of a drug test result involves four key stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.
Accessioning handles the first stage of entering a sample into a lab's system. This covers ensuring the sample's secure seal and shipment, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and fulfilling any extra data entry that an electronic chain of custody system might not include.
Screening is a preliminary assessment for the presence of drugs. Even though Screening is an economical method to eliminate drug use in most cases, any positive result must be verified for legal acceptance. Samples with initially positive Screening results necessitate further confirmation.
For samples that yield positive results in Screening, additional hair is extracted from the initial batch and readied for Extraction. During this phase, drugs are isolated from hair at significantly lower concentrations than in alternative methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), which is the reason hair drug testing is notably complex.
Confirmation for any positive screening occurs using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptively positive results undergo washing before confirmation if necessary. The complete lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is examined under both CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair category and ISO / IEC 17025 accreditation standards.
Advantages of hair drug testing:
Limitations:
Note: Although frequently termed "hair follicle tests", the analysis actually examines the hair strand, not the follicle beneath the scalp.
Hair follicle testing in Bristol, PA, offers advantages over traditional urine tests.
Accuracy and Reliability: Hair tests detect a broader range of substances with superior accuracy.
The results are nearly impossible to cheat, providing assurance and demonstrating a longer detection window, up to 90 days.
Hair follicle testing in Bristol, PA, stands out for its extended detection window for drug use.
This method allows the detection of drug presence for up to 90 days, offering a thorough evaluation for employers regarding individual substance use patterns.
In Bristol, PA, hair follicle tests are designed to be tamper-resistant, setting them apart from other testing methods.
This resilience significantly reduces the chance of sample adulteration, guaranteeing that the results are both reliable and unquestionable.
Convenience meets accessibility with our nationwide and local testing centers in Bristol, PA.
Accredited Drug Testing offers seamless testing access across the country, making the process quick and hassle-free.
In Bristol, PA, the testing process with Accredited Drug Testing is straightforward and confidential.
Ordering and receiving results are streamlined to ensure privacy and ease for all involved.
Accredited Drug Testing offers competitive pricing and swift turnaround times in Bristol, PA, enhancing value for companies big and small.
Low costs and quick results provide exceptional value and peace of mind.
In Bristol, PA, the precision and swiftness of hair follicle drug tests are unmatched, delivering reliable and prompt results.
These tests excel in identifying substance presence with remarkable accuracy, giving users unparalleled assurance.
Hair follicle testing ensures peace and compliance with drug-free workplace policies in Bristol, PA.
Employers can rest easy knowing they are meeting legal standards, minimizing risks, and fostering a safe environment.
